Giulianos Forum

A black police officer who was at Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s home when the black Harvard scholar was arrested says he fully supports how his white fellow officer handled the situation.

Sgt. Leon Lashley says Gates was probably tired and surprised when Sgt. James Crowley demanded identification from him as officers investigated a report of a burglary. Lashley says Gates’ reaction to Crowley was “a little bit stranger than it should have been.”

Asked if Gates should have been arrested, Lashley said he supported Crowley “100 percent.”

Gates has said he was the victim of racial profiling.

President Obama had said Wednesday the officers “acted stupidly.” Before a press conference yesterday by Obama in which he said he regretted his choice of words, Lashley called the president’s remark “unfortunate” and said he should be allowed to take it back.